Chinese consumers loving the luxury

China is set to become the world's second biggest market for luxury goods after the United States in five years, overtaking France, Britain, Italy and Japan, an industry report has said.

Developed countries still dominate the personal luxury market but economic woes are reducing demand while rising middle classes in emerging economies take up the slack, consumer research group Euromonitor said.

Luxury-goods sales could top US$302 billion worldwide this year, up 4 per cent from 2011, as buyers from developing nations snap up designer handbags, clothes, jewellery, watches, fine wine, champagne and spirits, it said.

"Benefitting from a fast-growing middle class and a fast-developing luxury distribution network, sales of luxury goods in China have consistently outperformed the global market," Euromonitor said.

Japan is currently the world's second biggest market for luxury goods but its share has been shrinking as the country struggles with economic problems.

Demand for luxury goods has been lacklustre this year in developed Western markets and Japan due to rising prices and mounting insecurity over jobs and pensions, Euromonitor said.

However, emerging markets led by the so-called BRIC grouping - Brazil, Russia, India and China - are making up for the shortfall.

The BRIC countries will account for 11 per cent of total luxury sales with a combined retail value of over US$33 billion this year, up from only 4.0 per cent in 2007, it said.

This is forecast to rise to US$59 billion, or 16 per cent of global sales, by 2017.

The world's four biggest luxury goods markets - the United States, Japan, Italy and France - still accounted for almost half the value in sales this year, the report said.

Designer apparel are expected to remain the best-selling items, accounting for 42 per cent of total luxury goods revenue by 2017, but jewellery and timepieces are fast gaining popularity, it said.

While China's importance to luxury goods makers has soared in recent years, signs have emerged of demand growth easing.

Last month, shares in luxury clothing and accessories group Burberry tumbled after the British firm issued a surprise profit warning which analysts blamed on China's economic slowdown.